Student Internships

An intern is someone who works in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment - similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post-graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. Student internships provide opportunities for students to gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts, and in most cases gain school credit. Internships provide the employers with inexpensive (or free) labor for (typically) low-level tasks, and the prospect of interns' returning to the company after completing their education and requiring little or no additional training. Clearly this system benefits both the student and the employer, and the range of businesses that offer internships are vast - from fashion magazines to home health services.

Students are always looking for ways to save money. There are many ways to do this, of course, without resorting to an instant noodles diet! Most communities have student discounts in their local shops, cafes and restaurants, perhaps at the advice food PR agencies. This may entail a free gift or beverage with purchase, or a percentage off of your total bill, simply by showing your valid student card. There are many businesses that offer this type of incentive for students, as well as many others that cater specifically to the needs of the student body, including offering internships.

With the guidance of the internship placement staff at your school, as well as the resources on the internet, finding a collection of the best job-seeker resources to help college students gain experience with internships and summer jobs has never been easier. Whether you want to spend your summer interning at the top electronic design and manufacturing plant or assisting with scientific research SRED, your internship experience can be tailored to your wants, with special focus on your chosen field or career area. Many companies, not just in the manufacturing and research sectors, are accepting new interns all of the time, taking these young people under their wings and supporting their education through practical application. Not only is this a great way to see what it will be like in the real world after graduation, but this is a great opportunity to get some hands-on experience that can be drawn upon in the upcoming school year. Certainly those students that participate in internship programs are better prepared to enter the work force upon graduation, and already have personal connections with individuals in their chosen field, giving them a leg up on the tough competition.

Let's get back to the issue of money, since your internship may or may not be profitable. An internship may be either paid, unpaid or partially paid (in the form of a stipend). Paid internships are most common in the medical, architecture science, engineering, law, business (especially accounting and finance), and the fields of advertising and technology. Internships in non-profit organizations such as charities are often unpaid volunteer positions. Internships may be part-time or full-time; typically they are part-time during the university academic year and full-time in the summer, and they typically last 6-12 weeks, but this can vary depending on the company as well as your performance. The act of job shadowing may also constitute as interning.

Internship positions are available from businesses, government departments, non-profit groups and organizations. Due to strict labor laws, European internships are mostly unpaid, although they are still popular among non-Europeans in order to gain international exposure on one's resume and foreign language improvement. Whether your internship position sees you running a pin mixer or running the company's budgetary overview, interning is a great way to gain experience, knowledge, and contacts for your future career.